Bracelet clasp



Dec. 23,1924. 1,520,203

- A. L. NEWMAN BRACELET CLASP Filed Sept. 2'7. 1924 Patented Dec. 23,1924.

entree: states eareafr caries.

ALMYR L. NEWMAN, oFwAnwIcK,1ItHoDE ISLAND, AssIeNoIt TQA"; L. NEWMAN"8.;

COMPANY, A rAaT'NnRsHIrco'NsI'sTI-NG or ALMYR L. NEWMAN AND AUeU'sTU'sL. NEWMAN, BOTH or WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND, ANDREW o3 BURGESSiUF SOUTHORANGE; NEW JERSEY, AND JOHN A. BUaenss or PROVIDENCE; RHODE ISLAND,DOING BUsI-NEss- A'I" cRANsT'oN', RHODE' IsIiAND.

BRACELET CLASP;

Application filed September 27; 19245 Serial Nor 740,347.-

To'cll whom it may con-0cm:

Be it known that I, .A-LM'Y-R L. NEWMAN,

a citizen of the United Stat'es,residing at lVarwick, in the countyofKent, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bracelet Clasps, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to clasps for watchbracelets and like articles ofjewelry and consists of improvements in the construction-of the same;

One object of the invention is to provide A. preferred embodiment of theinvention is described in the following specification and-illustrated bythe accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 illustrates my improved clasp as employed at the ends of a metalbracelet for fastening the same toa wrist watch;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of'the clasp showing it partsectional in a vertical plane;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom planview of the clasp showing a portion ofits end broken'awayto illustrate the spring-operated tongue which closesthe beak or hook of the clasp;

Fig. i is a plan View of the blank from i which the body of the clasp isconstructed;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the tongue of the clasp showing the bentfinger or tab for fastening the spring in place; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the method of attaching the spring tothe tongue.

Referring to the drawings, my improved clasp is preferably constructedfrom a blank 2 of relatively thin sheet-metal punched or stamped out inthe form shown in Fig. 4, The main part'of the blank 2 is ofsubstantially rectangular shape with; opposite lateral wing-s 3,3 havingsmall tabs or lugs @projecting from their ends. The opposite ends of thewings3 have'their edges cutaway orconcavedtoward the center of the blankwhere they join the edges of a narrowedneck portion 5. The neck 5 flaresoutwardly; Into a wider rectangular strip 6 which constitutes the curvedhook or beak of the clasp formed by; bending the metal around asshown inFig; 2.;

The lateralwings 3} of the blankare bent at right angles to its mainportion and; then folded inwardly, at points indicated" by the'do-t-tedlines" in Fi 4, with their edges meeting in a butte'd-seam see Fig. 3,thus forming the sides 8 andbottom 9 of a hollow, rectangular, box-like,strucsure 10. The top and-bottom of the box 10 are slightly curvedalong. their length to provide an arcuate contour conforming to theshape'of the links of thebracelet-to' which'the clasp is attached, thusadaptingthe whole bracelet to fit sungly against the wrist of thewearer. of the clasp is adapted" to receive one of the sliding links ofthe bracelet which is normally maintained teles'coped therein byanenclosedspring held by the lugs 4 bent upwardlyat the end ofthefbox.Since the construction of the bracelet itself forms no part of thepresent invention, however, it is not herein shown ordesoribedan detail.The tongue or keeper 11 for closmg thebeak or hook 6- of the clasp isillustrated in detail in Fig. 5. It consistsof a sheetmetal striphavingflaring later'al'e'dges and an integral narrow cross-bar 12'atoneen'd.- A narrow tab or ear 14: is sheared'out' from the metal of thetongue to adapt it to be bent upwardly at an angle thereto, as shown inFig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 6, the spring 15 which operates the tongue 11 isconstructed from a length of fine tempered wire bent intoa loop 16 andinserted under the upwardly bent car 14 with its ends twisted togetherto form a single leg extending perpendicular to the cross-bar 12 of thetongue. After the loop of the spring 15 has been placed under the tab 14the latter is hammered or swaged The box portion 10;

down into the opening from which it is sheared, thus causing the edgesof the open ing to bite against the wire to bind the spring firmly inplace on the tongue as shown in Fig. 6.

The wings 3 of the blank 2 of the clasp are pierced with circular holes18 which, when the blank is folded into shape, are positioned at theends of the sides 8 of the box 10. WVhile the box 10 is being formed theopposite ends of the cross-bar 12 of the tongue 11 are inserted throughthe holes 18 to adapt them to serve as trunnions or pivots on which thetongue hinges. One end 19 of the cross-bar 12 is made longer than theother end and after being inserted through its respective hole it isbent at right-angles, as shown in Fig. 3, to form a crank-arm foroperating the tongue 11 to open the clasp. The spring 15 is bent aroundthe rearward edge of the tongue 11, as shown in Fig. 2, to adapt its endto bear against the under side of the neck 5 of the hook 6 to normallyhold the tongue with its forward end closed against the inner edge ofthe hook.

In use my improved clasp operates as follows: IVhen employed on awatch-bracelet the clasp is readily attached to the loop 20 on the sideof the watch 21, as shown in Fig. 1, by pressing its tongue 11 againstthe loo-p to enter the latter into the hook or beak 6 of the clasp. Thetongue 11 then swings back under the action of the spring 15 to closethe hook to prevent the escape of the loop 20. When it is required tounfasten the clasp the crank-arm 20 is pressed with the finger to swingthe tongue 11 inwardly away from the end of the hook 6, whereupon theloop 20 may be readily slipped out of the clasp.

It will be observed that my invention pro- Vides a clasp of particularlyneat and simple construction in which there are only two main elements,the spring for the tongue of the clasp being substantially an integralpart thereof when once assembled therewith. The operative part of thespring, being formed by the twisted lengths of wire, is renderedparticularly strong and durable and capable of retaining its resiliencyunder long periods of use. Furthermore, there are no pins, screws orrivets employed in the improved construction, the parts when onceassembled being permanently held together so that the complete clasp isnot liable to be broken, deranged o-r disorganized.

Having now explained the nature of my invention and a preferredembodiment thereof, I claim:

1. In a clasp for watch-bracelets or the like, the combination of atubular box-like member having holes in its sides and a hook projectingfrom its end, a tongue formed with an integral cross-bar arranged withits ends journaled in the holes in the sides of the box and one of theends bent at right-angles to provide a crank-arm for swinging thetongue, and a, spring operating on the tongue to normally maintain it inposition with its end closing the mouth of the hook.

2. In an article of the type specified, the combination of a memberhaving a hook at its end, a tongue pivoted on said member to adapt it toclose the mouth of the hook, and a spring constructed of strands of wiretwisted together and arranged between the hook-member and the tongue toyieldingly hold the latter with its ends closed against the end of thehook.

3. In an article of the type specified, the combination of a memberhaving a hook at its end, a tongue pivoted on said member to adapt it toswing across the opening of the hook, and a spring formed from a lengthof wire bent into a loop for fastenilrg it to the tongue and having itsends twisted together and extending against the side of the hook toyieldingly hold the tongue closed against the end of the hook.

4. In an article of the type specified, the combination of a memberhaving a hook at its end, a tongue pivoted on said member to adapt it toswing across the opening of the hook, said tongue formed with an earbent upwardly from an opening cut through the metal of the tongue, and aspring formed from a length of wire bent into a loop with its endstwisted together, said loop enclosing the ear on the tongue and securedthereto by bending the car back into the opening, said spring extendingfrom the tongue to bear against the side of the hook to hold the tongueclosed against the end of the hook.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALMYR L. NEWVMAN.

